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Birch River Grill a hideaway from business

Written by CARY STOLARCZYK

Monday, 01 January 2007

With a little searching you will find the Birch River Grill hidden, in plain sight, just down the Northwest Tollway from that vast field known as the IKEA parking lot. After a spot of Christmas shopping or perhaps you need to work up the desire to fight the crowds, one cannot help but looking for that place to hide from the Schaumburg shopping corridor. Either way The Birch River Grill offers a cozy, off the beaten track, feel with a bustling placement.

Birch River Grill

75 W. Algonquin Road
Arlington Hts, IL 60005
(847) 427-4242
www.birchrivergrill.com/

ATMOSPHERE

Part board room, part hunting lodge; Birch River Grill offers warm wooded tones, and really just radiates elegance. Aesthetics are key here from the stone lined fireplace replete with wild game trophies to the meticulous dessert, which I still swear was smiling at me.

CROWD

While there seems to have a suit wearing entourage one would not be out of place in business casual.

SPIRITS

The wine list easily covers all the bases. On the other hand, the specialty drink menu tempts you up to its room for a nightcap. The helpful staff can help you sort out that conundrum.

GRUB

I said it before and I’ll say it again; aesthetics are key. The grandiose salads seem to extract high levels of attention with ornamental architecture and a nice variety of compliments. The entrée was a delight for the senses with its richly charred cedar plank offering up a fillet of honey glazed salmon. The blackened cedar drifts its smoky spice in the most agreeable manner. The menu does diverge from the briny deep, however. Ribs, chicken, duck and mac & cheese; they’re all represented here. Finnish things off with a robust coffee and a diminutive dessert, perhaps an apple spice cake or a chocolate soufflé, and you will be glad you saved some room.

PRICES

Walking into the Birch River Grill you are not bargain hunting by any means. The comfortable and cozy atmosphere suggests a romantic evening and it all accompanied by romantic evening prices. For a full meal, from salad to sweets, $40 bucks per meal would be about mid range. Depending upon your tastes in wine, that estimate could fluctuate a bit.

WHY IT'S UNIQUE

From its healthy wine list to its stylized presentation of entrees the Birch River Grill is truly dressed to impress. While one might suggest there’s no real life to a “hotel restaurant,” I would have to say this is truly the exception to the rule. From the spacious warmth by the fireplace to the intimate booths you will undoubtedly feel miles away from the peripheral rush hour. The Birch River Grill offers a cozy getaway from the daily rigors, without that pesky commute.

Comments

Good times!
Written by Guest on 2007-01-10 08:33:32

I love this place too! The food is tasty and It just feels soo cozy in there! Good Review!